Letters to the Editor: Springfield City Council lax on pawn shop rules

I just received the following via email from a very happy and relieved neighbor. It took a year but they got him:

“Today the district attorney’s office notified me that the person, who broke into my house a year ago, Aug, 24, has been caught and is being arraigned on Wednesday. They matched the DNA they took on a firesafe that had his blood on it. I had long ago given up the idea of the thief or thieves being caught. If the 30-day waiting period for the sale of pawned and used articles had been in effect he might have been caught a long time ago and some of the items returned. Nevertheless, it is great that another burglar has been caught. All that’s needed is for the courts to do their job. Hurray for DNA.
Joan

However, it is her comment on the “30 days waiting period” that needs all of our attention. I can see no reason why the “30 day waiting period” as well as the “photograph and post” procedure on jewelry sold to pawnbrokers is having so much trouble being passed by our City Council. I suggest everyone that wants to assist the police in their efforts to protect us contact their City Council members and demand they pass the police department request to change the holding period from the present 10 days to the prior 30 days plus add the “photograph and post” procedure. Any one of us could be next.